Phytosanitary treatment blockchain

ABSTRACT

A phytosanitary treatment blockchain is generated from automatically gathered phytosanitary treatment records. The phytosanitary treatment records are generated by matching authenticated treatment data with authenticated identification data. Matching may be based on geolocation, timestamps, or both. Authentication may be based on digital signatures using private key encryption. Separate treatment sensors and identification sensors automatically gather information about a phytosanitary treatment and the item being treated. The gathered information is encrypted and transmitted to blockchain members that perform authentication, matching, and generation of the phytosanitary treatment blockchain. A tracking code may be issued for each treatment. The tracking code is used to obtain an authentication of the treatment that indicates whether the treatment passed or failed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter of this disclosure is generally related tophytosanitary treatments, and more particularly to creation andmanagement of reliable phytosanitary treatment records.

BACKGROUND

International trade is a primary cause of new introductions of invasivealien species such as the Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophoraglabripennis) and Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys). Therates of new introductions increased steeply after 1950, and more than athird of all first introductions occurred between 1970 and 2014. TheInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently lists357 invasive alien species that seriously threaten native ecosystems.

Fumigation and heat treatment are well-established practices for theprevention of spread of invasive species through agricultural productsand wood packaging. However, new introductions have increased due to thecombination of trade growth and inconsistent and unreliable treatmentpractices. International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15(ISPM-15) was developed by the International Plant Protection Convention(IPPC) for treatment of wood and packaging material made of wood, bothof which are recognized pathways for the introduction and spread ofpests. According to ISPM-15, all solid wood and wood packaging material(WPM) over 6 mm in thickness used for export, such as wooden pallets,dunnage, and crating, must be treated. An ISPM-15 compliant heattreatment process requires heating to an internal temperature of 56degrees Celsius or more for at least 30 minutes. The United StatesDepartment of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service(APHIS) has a Memorandum of Understanding with the American LumberStandard Committee (ALSC) for compliance with ISPM-15. However, theintegrity of the program is dependent upon self-regulation by industryand can be easily circumvented due to inadequate regulatory oversightand dependence on paper documentation. Similar problems exist withfumigation programs.

SUMMARY

All examples, aspects and features mentioned in this document can becombined in any technically possible way.

In accordance with some aspects an apparatus comprises: at least onetreatment sensor that detects and stores measurements of environmentalconditions associated with a phytosanitary treatment; at least oneidentification sensor that detects and stores information thatidentifies an item undergoing the phytosanitary treatment; and aplurality of block-chain members that maintain a blockchain ofphytosanitary treatment records, including a phytosanitary treatmentrecord generated from the detected measurements of environmentalconditions associated with the phytosanitary treatment and the detectedinformation that identifies the item undergoing the phytosanitarytreatment.

In accordance with some aspects a method comprises: detecting andstoring measurements of environmental conditions associated with aphytosanitary treatment; detecting and storing information thatidentifies an item undergoing the phytosanitary treatment; andmaintaining a blockchain of phytosanitary treatment records, including aphytosanitary treatment record generated from the detected measurementsof environmental conditions associated with the phytosanitary treatmentand the detected information that identifies the item undergoing thephytosanitary treatment.

Advantages that may be associated with some implementations includeimproved reliability due to automatic data capture and associated use ofa blockchain to maintain phytosanitary treatment records. Manuallycollected data, e.g. recorded on paper, is easily lost, corrupted, orforged. Further, paper records are not conducive to computerizedanalysis and are time-consuming to retrieve. Automated data collectionhelps to avoid data corruption due to human error and laziness. Further,a phytosanitary treatment blockchain is much more difficult to lose,forge, or alter than paper records.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for automatically creatingblock-chained phytosanitary records.

FIG. 2 illustrates generation of a phytosanitary treatment recordblockchain.

FIG. 3 illustrates automated phytosanitary fumigation treatment andoptical identification of goods.

FIG. 4 illustrates automated phytosanitary heat treatment andidentification of goods with RFID.

FIGS. 5, 6A, 6B, 7, and 8 illustrate authentication information via agraphical user interface.

FIG. 9 illustrates a method of creating block-chained phytosanitaryrecords.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the invention will be described and illustrated in thecontext of phytosanitary fumigation and heat treatment records. However,the invention is not limited to phytosanitary treatments. Further, theinvention is not limited to fumigation and heat treatments.

Some aspects, features and implementations described herein may includemachines such as computers, electronic components, optical components,and processes such as computer-implemented steps. It will be apparent tothose of ordinary skill in the art that the computer-implemented stepsmay be stored as computer-executable instructions on a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium. Furthermore, it will be understood by those ofordinary skill in the art that the computer-executable instructions maybe executed on a variety of tangible processor devices. For ease ofexposition, not every step, device or component that may be part of acomputer or data storage system is described herein. Those of ordinaryskill in the art will recognize such steps, devices and components inview of the teachings of the present disclosure and the knowledgegenerally available to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thecorresponding machines and processes are therefore enabled and withinthe scope of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for automatically creatingblock-chained phytosanitary records. The system includes treatmentsensors 104, identification sensors 106, and multiple blockchain members112. The treatment sensors and identifications sensors include at leastone sensor component, processor, memory, power source, and a wirednetwork interface or wireless transceiver. In some implementations thetreatment sensors and identification sensors are implemented usingmobile computing devices such as mobile phones, notepad computers, ortablet computers. The blockchain members are computing devices such asservers, storage arrays, cloud storage gateways, data centers, or othertypes of computing nodes.

Phytosanitary record generation may begin when an item being treatedsuch as goods/packaging materials 100 is moved into a treatment area102. The goods/packaging materials may include a wide variety ofagricultural and non-agricultural products and/or wood or WPM. Thetreatment area 102 may be located anywhere in the distribution chainfrom a point of origin such as a farm to a destination such as a foodretailer. Within the treatment area 102, the goods/packaging materials100 are subjected to a phytosanitary treatment such as fumigation orheat to kill pests and invasive alien species in accordance with any ofvarious protocols and programs for fumigation and heat treatment thatare known in the art.

The treatment sensors 104, which may be located inside or outside thetreatment area 102, measure and record characteristic aspects of thephytosanitary treatment process. Examples of characteristic aspects thatmay be measured and recorded include, but are not limited to, one ormore of treatment start time (time of day and date), treatment end time(time of day and date), geographic location where the measurements aretaken (e.g., global positioning system coordinates), concentration offumigant at treatment start time, concentration of fumigant at treatmentend time, concentration of fumigant at recorded times between the starttime and the end time, temperature of the treatment area orgoods/packaging materials at treatment start time, temperature of thetreatment area or goods/packaging materials at treatment end time, andtemperatures of the treatment area or goods/packaging materials atrecorded times between the start time and the end time. The recordedcharacteristic aspects of the treatment are transmitted to theblockchain members 112 as treatment data 118. The treatment data 118 maybe encrypted before transmission, e.g. using private key cryptography.

The identification sensors 106 sense and record identifyingcharacteristics of the goods/packaging materials 100 being treated. Forexample, the identification sensors may sense and record a unique IDassociated with the goods/packaging materials or a container in whichthe goods/packaging materials are being transported. The identificationsensors may independently determine and record the geographic locationat which the identifying characteristics are recorded. Further, theidentification sensors may independently timestamp the recorded data,e.g. with the time of day and date when the identifying characteristicsare sensed and recorded. The identifying characteristics of thegoods/packaging materials are transmitted to blockchain members 112 asidentification data 120. The identification data 120 may be encryptedbefore transmission using private key cryptography.

Various aspects of generation of the treatment data and theidentification data may be automated. For example, the treatment data118 and the identification data 120 may be created without reliance oninformation recorded on paper. Electromechanical, electronic, optical,or other types of sensors may record machine-readable measurements andinformation that are used to create the treatment data 118 andidentification data 120. In some implementations the treatment data 118and the identification data 120 are created without reliance on anymanually recorded information. For example, operation of the treatmentsensors and identification sensors may be fully automated such that thetreatment data 118 and identification data 120 are generated withoutneed for a human to manually initiate new measurements for each new itemof goods/packaging materials that is moved into the treatment area andtreated. The treatment sensors may automatically detect treatment startand stop based on temperature or fumigant concentration. Further, theidentification sensors may automatically detect treatment start and stopeach time a new item of goods/packaging materials is moved into and outof the treatment area.

The treatment data is matched and combined with the identification datafor a given phytosanitary treatment to create a phytosanitary treatmentrecord 108. The blockchain members 112 each receive the encryptedtreatment data 118 and the encrypted identification data 120 formultiple treatments. The blockchain members use a public key or publickeys to decrypt the treatment data and identification data. Moreover,private key cryptography may be used to obtain a digital signature fromthe treatment data and identification data. The decrypted treatment datamay be matched with the corresponding decrypted identification databased on one or more of matching timestamps and geographic locationscontained therein. The digital signature may be used for primaryauthentication of the treatment data and identification data. Thematching of timestamps and geographic locations contained therein may beused for secondary authentication. The matched and authenticatedtreatment data and identification data are combined in each member tocreate an authenticated phytosanitary treatment record 108. Contingentupon agreement between the members on authentication, the phytosanitarytreatment record 108 is added to a blockchain of phytosanitary treatmentrecords as will be discussed in greater detail below.

A unique tracking code 114 may be assigned to the phytosanitarytreatment record 108, e.g. by the blockchain members. A representationof the tracking code 114 may be physically associated with thegoods/packaging materials 100. Examples of tracking code representationsinclude bar and QR codes. The tracking code can be used toelectronically obtain an authentication 116 associated with thetreatment record 108. The authentication 116, which may be obtained fromany member, indicates whether the treatment passed or failed. Theauthentication may also include information from the treatment record.The authentication may be displayed in a human-readable form using a GUI(graphic user interface) 122 as will be explained below.

FIG. 2 illustrates generation of a phytosanitary treatment recordblockchain 200. After the treatment data 118 and identification data 120have been decrypted, authenticated, matched, and combined to create thephytosanitary treatment record 108, the record 108 is used to generate anew block 202. The new block 202 also includes a hash 204 of thepreviously generated block 206. The hash 204 is generated by processingthe previously generated block 206 with a hash function 208. The hashfunction, as is known in the art, generates a unique fixed length stringas a function of the input block. Non-identical blocks do not generatethe same hash. The previously generated block 206 includes the previousphytosanitary treatment record 210 and a hash 212 the block 214 that wasgenerated before block 206 using the same hash function 208. Block 214includes the phytosanitary treatment record 216 generated prior tophytosanitary treatment record 210 and a hash of a prior block (notillustrated). Consequently, the hashes provide a unique relationshipbetween successive blocks, and thus between temporally successivephytosanitary treatment records. The block chain members regularlycommunicate to validate their copies of the phytosanitary treatmentblock chain. Changing any phytosanitary treatment record in theblockchain would require all subsequent hashes and blocks to also bechanged. Thus, an unauthorized change of a phytosanitary treatmentrecord at one member would be detected and rejected.

FIG. 3 illustrates automated phytosanitary fumigation treatment andoptical identification of goods. A treatment sensor implemented as afumigation gas concentration monitor 300 is mounted to a shippingcontainer 302, which is the treatment area. The gas concentrationmonitor includes sensor components that measure the concentration offumigant gas under control of a program running on a processor. The gasconcentration monitor records and timestamps the gas concentrationmeasurements. GPS circuitry may be used to determine geographiccoordinates that may be associated with the timestamped measurements,i.e. providing the geolocation at which the measurements were recorded.The timestamped and geolocated gas concentration measurements areencrypted and transmitted to the members as described above, e.g. usingwireless communication. The identification sensors are implemented as anoptical identification device 304 that includes a camera that capturesan image of the shipping container 302 in which the goods/packagingmaterials are being transported. The image is analyzed to determineidentifying characteristics of the shipping container. For example, oneor more of the owner code, product group code, registration number,check digit, and size & type code may be detected and recorded. Therecorded identifying characteristics are timestamped and associated withgeographic coordinates obtained from GPS circuitry of the opticalidentification device, i.e., independently from the gas concentrationmonitor. The timestamped and geolocated identifying characteristics areencrypted and sent from the optical identification device to themembers, e.g. wirelessly or via a wired communication network.

FIG. 4 illustrates automated phytosanitary heat treatment andidentification of goods using RFID technology. The treatment sensors areimplemented as a temperature monitor and/or fumigation/gas concentrationmonitor 400 that is mounted to an ISPM-15 heat chamber or fumigationchamber 402, which is the treatment area. The temperature monitorincludes temperature sensors that measure the temperature within thechamber 402 under control of a program running on a processor. Thetemperature monitor records and timestamps the temperature measurements,thereby capturing treatment start time, stop time, and duration. GPScircuitry may be used to determine geographic coordinates that may beassociated with the timestamped measurements, i.e. providing thegeolocation at which the measurements were recorded. The timestamped andgeolocated temperature measurements are encrypted transmitted to themembers as described above, e.g. using wireless communication or a wirednetwork. An RFID reader 304 disposed on a portal gateway proximate tothe opening of the ISPM-15 heat chamber or fumigation chamber 402captures information stored in RFID tags such as RFID tag 406 whichaffixed to the goods/commodities/packaging materials, e.g. a woodenpallet 408. Each pallet may have a RFID tag and unique individual ID.The RFID tag includes identifying characteristics of the goods/packagingmaterials. The recorded identifying characteristics are timestamped andassociated with geographic coordinates obtained from GPS circuitry ofthe RFID reader, i.e., independently from the temperature monitor. Thetimestamped and geolocated identifying characteristics are encrypted andsent from the RFID reader to the members.

FIGS. 5, 6A, 6B, 7, and 8 illustrate authentication information obtainedin response to a tracking code and presented via a graphical userinterface. The interface may present information about individualsensors, e.g., ID, type, and calibration information. Job details suchas the identity of the customer, type of fumigant, type ofgoods/packaging materials treated, and treatment protocol may bepresented. The geographic coordinates may be used to retrieve aninteractive map and display the location of the treatment. Further, thefumigant concentration over time or temperature over time may beplotted. Measurements from individual sensors may be presented, and anindication of whether the treatment passed or failed may be clearlyindicated.

FIG. 9 illustrates a method of creating block chained phytosanitaryrecords. The goods/packaging materials are identified as indicated instep 900. As mentioned above, identification may be performedautomatically without human intervention. For example, an RFID tag maybe scanned with a reader or markings may be read with an opticalscanner. The ID is timestamped, combined with location data, encryptedusing private key cryptography and a digital signature, and transmittedto member in a message as indicated in step 902. Step 904 is to decryptthe message and use the digital signature for primary authenticationusing the signature. The treatment of the goods/packaging materials ismonitored as indicated in step 906. As mentioned above, treatmentmonitoring may be performed automatically without human intervention.The recorded treatment data is timestamped, combined with location data,encrypted using private key cryptography and a digital signature, andtransmitted to member in a message as indicated in step 908. Step 910 isto decrypt the message and use the digital signature for primaryauthentication. Steps 900 through 904 may be performed in parallel withsteps 906 through 910.

Using the decrypted data, the time and geolocation stamped ID is matchedwith the time and geolocation stamped treatment data as indicated instep 912. For example, the time and location stamps may be matched. Thematching of times and locations may be considered secondaryauthentication. The authenticated ID and treatment data of the matchingrecords are combined into a fumigation or heat treatment record asindicated in step 914. The treatment record is added to a treatmentrecord blockchain as indicated in step 916. A tracking code for theblock-chained treatment record in generated as indicated in step 918. Inresponse to receipt of the tracking record from another node the memberprovides the authentication as indicated in step 920. The authenticationmay include some or all the block-chained treatment record.

Several features, aspects, embodiments and implementations have beendescribed. Nevertheless, it will be understood that a wide variety ofmodifications and combinations may be made without departing from thescope of the inventive concepts described herein. Accordingly, thosemodifications and combinations are within the scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: at least one treatmentsensor configured to detect measurements of environmental conditionsassociated with a phytosanitary treatment of a post-harvest agriculturalproduct; at least one identification sensor configured to detectinformation that identifies the post-harvest agricultural product; and aplurality of blockchain members configured to maintain a blockchain ofphytosanitary certificates that are treatment records comprising matchedpairs of other measurements of environmental conditions associated withother phytosanitary treatments and other identifications of post-harvestagricultural products that were treated, wherein the blockchain membersare configured to add to the blockchain a phytosanitary certificategenerated from the detected measurements of environmental conditionsassociated with the phytosanitary treatment of the post-harvestagricultural product and the information that identifies thepost-harvest agricultural product.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe blockchain members are configured to use private key encryption anda digital signature for primary authentication.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the treatment sensor is configured to associate atimestamp with each detected measurement.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the treatment sensor is configured to associate a geolocationwith each detected measurement.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein theidentification sensor is configured to associate a timestamp with thephytosanitary treatment and the information that identifies thepost-harvest agricultural product.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe identification sensor is configured to associate a geolocation withthe phytosanitary treatment and the information that identifies thepost-harvest agricultural product.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe treatment sensor and the identification sensor are configured to useprivate key encryption to send a digital signature and encrypted,timestamped, geolocation-stamped information that identifies thepost-harvest agricultural product and the measurements of environmentalconditions associated with the phytosanitary treatment, and wherein theblockchain members are configured to use the digital signature forprimary authentication.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein theblockchain members are configured to match the information thatidentifies the post-harvest agricultural product with the measurementsof environmental conditions associated with the phytosanitary treatmentbased on timestamps and geolocation-stamps.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8wherein the blockchain members are configured to create a phytosanitarycertificate from the matched information that identifies thepost-harvest agricultural product and measurements of environmentalconditions associated with the phytosanitary treatment and add thephytosanitary certificate to the blockchain.
 10. The apparatus of claim9 wherein at least one of the blockchain members is configured togenerate a tracking code to which the blockchain members are responsiveto provide authentication of the phytosanitary treatment.
 11. A methodcomprising: detecting measurements of environmental conditionsassociated with a phytosanitary treatment of a post-harvest agriculturalproduct; detecting information that identifies the post-harvestagricultural product; maintaining a blockchain of phytosanitarycertificates that are treatment records comprising matching pairs ofother measurements of environmental conditions associated with otherphytosanitary treatments and other identifications of post-harvestagricultural products that were treated; and adding a phytosanitarycertificate generated from the detected measurements of environmentalconditions associated with the phytosanitary treatment and the detectedinformation that identifies the post-harvest agricultural product to theblockchain.
 12. The method of claim 11 comprising using private keyencryption and a digital signature for primary authentication of thedetected measurements of environmental conditions associated with thephytosanitary treatment and the detected information that identifies thepost-harvest agricultural product.
 13. The method of claim 11 comprisingassociating a timestamp with each detected measurement.
 14. The methodof claim 11 comprising associating a geolocation with each detectedmeasurement.
 15. The method of claim 11 comprising associating atimestamp with the information that identifies the post-harvestagricultural product.
 16. The method of claim 11 comprising associatinga geolocation with the information that identifies the post-harvestagricultural product.
 17. The method of claim 11 comprising a treatmentsensor and an identification sensor using private key encryption forsending a digital signature and encrypted, timestamped,geolocation-stamped information that identifies the post-harvestagricultural product and the measurements of environmental conditionsassociated with the phytosanitary treatment and comprising blockchainmembers using the digital signature for primary authentication.
 18. Themethod of claim 17 comprising the blockchain members matching theinformation that identifies the post-harvest agricultural product withthe measurements of environmental conditions associated with thephytosanitary treatment based on timestamps and geolocation-stamps. 19.The method of claim 18 comprising the blockchain members creating aphytosanitary certificate from the matched information that identifiesthe post-harvest agricultural product and measurements of environmentalconditions associated with the phytosanitary treatment and adding thephytosanitary certificate to a phytosanitary certificate blockchainwhich is an acknowledgement that the required fumigation concentrationsare achieved and therefore the process is traceable for compliance. 20.The method of claim 19 comprising at least one of the blockchain membersgenerating a tracking code to which the blockchain members respond byproviding authentication of the phytosanitary treatment.